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Tadzio And Jaschu In Thomas Mann's Novella, **Death In Venice**
As a reader of Mann's great novella, I applaud his effort to bring to literary description the presence of the beautiful Tadzio and his beach boyfriend, Jaschu. Visconti's 1971 film brought this relationship to visual reality in subtle ways, especially a shy but coy, and very surreptitiosly quick, kiss on the beach, with Jaschu's arm around Tadzio's neck.
What I do not understand is the falling out that encountered near the end---both in the book and the film. It is as if Mann, aggravated that his POV character, Von Aschenbook, could not connect with Tadzio, therefore Jaschu was not going to be permitted the more appropriate connection.
If the real Tadzio (whose name was Władysław Gerard Jan Nepomuk Marya Moes, November 17, 1900-December 17, 1986; his nickname was Wladzio) had a boyfriend like Jaschu, I hoped they had some real happiness in their friendship, and I hope that friendship evolved (however temporarily) into love.
Starward
